Vernon deserving of jersey retirement

Calgary Flames do not retire jerseys lightly. Much thought and much debate go into making such a decision. Choosing to retire just the second jersey in team history, the Flames will hoist goalie Mike Vernon’s No. 30 to the rafters on February 6, 2007.

It was a unaminous choice among owners and excutives with the hockey team. And so it should be.

While many fans had a love-hate relationship with Vernon during his two stints in his hometown, the Calgary native is deserving of the honour.

I’ve known Vernon since the 1989 season, coincidentally, the year the Flames last won the Stanley Cup when the then-26-year-old Vernon saved the day in many of the 22 games the Flames played en route to winning the Cup on the storied ice of the Montreal Forum.

His on-ice exploits speak for themselves. Two Stanley Cups (the second came in Detroit in 1996-97 along with a well-deserved Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs). Six times an all-star. A 20-year career with four teams — Calgary, Detroit, San Jose and Florida.

In 26 seasons, only one other Flames player has a jersey in the rafters. That would be Lanny McDonald, the Hall of Famer who had his jersey retired on March 17, 1990. McDonald was the co-captain during the Flames Stanley Cup year and knows how much Vernon meant to the team during those playoffs.

“Vernie is the biggest reason we are all wearing Stanley Cup rings,” notes McDonald. “A good friend, a great teammate and a fierce competitor, Calgary can be proud of their hometown boy.” Couldn’t have said it better myself.

Vernon, at a news conference announcing the jersey retirement, was his normal quippy self. But you could tell it was an emotional day. It will be even more emotional on February 6 when he stands on the ice with his wife, Jane, his four children and his father, among other family members.

There will be a flood of emotions. A flash of faces he has know throughout the game.
“I always enjoyed coming to the rink and seeing the guys, seeing the coaches, seeing the training staff. They made it fun for Mike Vernon to play hockey,” he said.

He joked that he thought he might never play in the NHL after making a brief appearance against Edmonton and giving up ” four goals in 10 minutes and a goals against average of 22.2 or something.”

But he stuck with it, spent time studying other goalies and ended up having a terrific career.
“I’m a hometown boy. It makes me feel good. I’m blessed to have had a long career and have been able to play in front of friends and family. One day my son will be able to look up and say ‘That’s my dad’,” said Vernon.

On February 6 all of Calgary will look up and remember what a great goalie Mike Vernon was for the Calgary Flames.

Mike Vernon was my favorite player when I was younger and I can't wait to see this, it's totally deserved. I'd give anything to be at the Saddledome that night.